Lock guard



W. RIPPIEN LocK sump Feb. 22,1927.

Filed Sept. 24, 1925 wr p m Patented Feb. 22, 1927.

UNITED STATES- WALTER RIPPIEN, or PHILADEL HIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

LOCK GUARD.

Application filed September This invention relates to devices for preventing the opening of doors by tampering, and the principal object of the invention is to provide simple and effective means for preventing retraction of the latch by means of a flat-bladed instrument inserted in the joint between the door frame and the outer edge of the door.

The particular type of door and latch to' 0 which this device is applicable is illustrated in the attached drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a face view of the guard device;

Fig. 2 is a section on the line 22, 1, and a I Fig. 3 is a horizontal section through that part of the door frame which includes the keeper showing the manner 111 which the guard is applied.

WVith reference to the drawings and particularly to Fig. 3, Ihave designated the door by the reference numeral 1 and a portion of the frame by the reference numeral 2. The door is provided with a well known Fig.

form of latch 3 which normally projects bep yond the outer edge of the door and lodges in a suitably formed recess 4 in the frame 2. A keeper plate 5 is provided which is secured to that portion of the frame surface around the recess 4:, this keeper plate 5 having an aperture for passage of the latch 3. The latch 3 has its outer face 6 inclined, as clearly illustrated, so that the latch will be retracted by engagement with the projecting edge of the keeper plate 5 when the door is moved into the closed position, and when the door is to be opened, the latch may be retracted by a handle 7, on either the inside or the outside of the door. In order to limit the outward movement of the" door, it is customary to provide a strip 8 of molding, usually nailed to the frame 2, as clearly illustrated. This general type of door and lock is in general use and will be as readily understood.

This lock, however, in many instances, may be easily opened from the outside by insert ing a flat instrument such as the blade of a knife between the molding and the frame '2, and thereafter forcing it inwardly against the inclined face -6 of the latch to thereby retract the latter.

As a remedy for this defect, I have provided a guard plate 9, preferably so formed 24, 1925. Serial No. 58,379.

as to permit it being driven into the wood of the frame 2 without previously preparing the latter for its admission, the plate being of suflicientwidth from top to bottom as effectively to prevent insertion of a blade for the purpose of retracting the latch. I

further provide means for preventing with drawal of the guard plate, this being in the form of oneor more apertures 10 in the plate through which nails 11 may be driven, as illustrated in Fig. 3. These apertures 10 are preferably elongated to facilitate the driving of the nails 11, and I also prefer to provide guide lines 12, see Fig. 1, eX- tending outwardly from the ends of the apertures 10 so as to be visible when the plate is in place to indicate the points at which the nails 11 should be driven in order to enter the apertures 10. In order further to preclude the possibility of withdrawal or displacement of the plate 9, I prefer to locate the heads of the nails under the plate 5, as clearly shown in Fig. 3, so that access tljereto can be had only by removal of this ate.

It will be apparent that this device prevents insertion of any instrument under the molding strip 8 in such manner as to retract the latch 3.

I claim: 1

1. A guard plate adapted to be driven into a door frame and to overlie the joint between the frame and the outer edge of the door, saidplate having at least one aperture in that part which is adapted toenter the frame for reception of a securing element driven into the frame at an angle to the plate, and a. guide line emending from the outer end of said aperture and visible on the projecting portion of said plate to indicate the position of said aperture.

2. A guard plate adapted to be partially driven into the frame of a do0r-so that its projecting portion overlies the joint between the door and the frame, said plate having at least one transversely elongated aperture in that part which is adapted to enter the frame, and a guide line extending from the outer end of said aperture and visible on the projecting portion of the plateto indicate the position of said aperture.

3. The combination with a door having a retractible latch, a frame for said door including a recess for the latch, a keeper plate secured to the frame and having an aperture corresponding with the mouth of said 'reeessfa guard plate driven partially into the frame so that its projecting portion overlies the joint between the outer edge of the door and the frame and in a position opposite the recess, said plate having an aperture in the emloedded portion, and a reta ning element driven into the frame beneath the said keeper plate and at an angle to the guard plate andpassing through the aperture in the latter.

WALTER RIPPIEN. 

